Piparo residents are already bracing for a volcanic eruption and added to that, they are now facing extreme water shortages.
During an interview yesterday, resident Boyo Surratt said they have not had water for a fortnight.
“We are rationing water. This area has a water problem and with the volcano, some water lines were broken with the movements of the land,” he said. Now that the desalination plant has gone down for repairs, residents say they are not expecting water in their lines anytime soon.
Meanwhile, in Hardbargain and Tableland, residents also said they were facing acute water shortages even before the desalination plant went down.
The plant which supplies 40 million gallons of water per day to WASA, was shut down on Tuesday to undergo repairs.
Meena Sohan from Mc Sween Road, Tableland made a request for water saying her tanks were empty.
Harry Rajkumar, also of Tableland called for an equitable distribution of water saying even when the desalination plant is running, they do not have a regular water supply.
“We have not had water in the lines for more than two weeks. Tableland is not included in the water schedule. Where I live the water goes into First Branch Road, then Second Branch Road and then by me. The water pressure is too low when it reaches and I have reported this to WASA many times,” Rajkumar said.
He said he has been forced to buy water and when this is not possible, he uses his son’s van to bring water from the standpipes on the main road.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Princes Town Regional Corporation Gowrie Roopnarine said he received 125 requests for water from residents on Tuesday. However, he was only able to deliver to 25 families.
“The worse hit areas are in Piparo, Hardbargain and Tableland. That area has over 500 residents. We are willing to provide assistance in water distribution as long as there is water in the hydrants,” Roopnarine said.
Hardwares in south and central have reported an increase in tank sales.
At Union Steel Hardware sales manager Reshma Budree said their tank stocks were depleted following a spike in sales.
“On Saturday before 10 am, we sold three 1,000 gallon tanks. On Sunday we sold more than 10 tanks,” she added. Budree noted that despite the increase in demand, the cost of a tank remained the same.
“We are still selling a 1,000 gallon for $2,233,” he added.
Another official said he was expecting a supply of tanks on Friday and already orders were placed for tanks.
One hardware dealer said he wanted a couple of hundred tanks but was unable to get that quantity from the supplier.
Officials from the sales department at Rotoplastics declined to comment on water tank sales.